Galaxy coach Guillermo Barros Schelotto said much of his focus this preseason has been on shoring up the team’s defense. “A lot of things we had to improve, but the most important thing was the defense,” he said. (Photo by GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images)

Coach Guillermo Barros Schelotto and the Galaxy have one final tune-up before the start of the 2019 season.

The Galaxy will face the Colorado Rapids Saturday at 8 p.m. at Dignity Health Sports Park.

“I think we are getting better,” Barros Schelotto said. “I hope we will look better than last year.”

While many with the Galaxy organization would like to forget about last season, Barros Schelotto has relived it, watching “almost” all of the games.

“It’s my job …you can find some problems watching last season and see where we didn’t play very good,” he said.

Through the preseason, the Galaxy has appeared to shore up some of its defensive liabilities that plagued the club last season. The Galaxy didn’t allow a goal in either of their last two scrimmages against Atlanta United FC and Vancouver.

“Our defense has looked much better,” Barros Schelotto said. “A lot of things we had to improve, but the most important thing was the defense.”

Resolution coming soon on Giovani dos Santos status

The MLS roster compliance date is next week before the March 2 season opener and the Galaxy still have some work to do regarding Giovani dos Santos.

The Galaxy, with their four Designated Players, need to get to three before the start of the season. Dos Santos is scheduled to make more than $6 million again this season.

There have been reports around the league that the Galaxy will buy down Dos Santos’ contract with Targeted Allocation Money.

New general manager Dennis te Kloese didn’t seem too pressured by the deadline.

“For sure before compliant day,” te Kloese said Thursday, when asked when will a decision be made. “It will be done and in the best way possible for the club.”

Other options include selling Dos Santos or buying out his contract.

“We want to be as respectful as we can toward all players,” te Kloese said. “All of these players are very important to us. DP players, obviously, both nationally and internationally renowned and we have to go about it the right way.”

Sebastian Lletget status unclear for opener

Midfielder Sebastian Lletget has yet to join the squad in full training as he recovers from what he called a “minor sprain” to his right hamstring.

Lletget suffered the injury in the Feb. 5 scrimmage against Vissel Kobe, just days after returning from U.S. Men’s National Team camp.

“Maybe it was a little worse than what we anticipated,” Lletget said Thursday. “I don’t think I’m far off. I think if it is not Chicago (March 2), it will be Dallas (March 9).

“I’d hate to miss the opener, but we’re shooting for that (March 9). We can’t accelerate too fast and regress.”

The Galaxy received another injury scare toward the end of Thursday’s training as midfielder Perry Kitchen suffered an apparent ankle injury. The severity is unknown.

Loan deals

The Galaxy announced that forward Bradford Jamieson IV has been loaned out to San Antonio FC of the USL. Also, Joao Pedro, who was sent out on a 10-month loan to Gymnasticos Syllogos Apollon Smyrnis in Greece, last season, will be sent on loan again, this time to C.D. Tondela in Portugal.

Damian Calhoun is the Prep Sports Coordinator and writer for the Daily Breeze. He's also the soccer writer for the Southern California News Group, covering Major League Soccer and occasionally the U.S. national teams.